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Oct 24.2009
It’s a very rainy day here in Woodstock. I spent the morning watching John Huston’s “Reflections in a Golden Eye.”
What a strange and mysterious movie. I really loved the visuals in that film so much. It was created with so much joy for life, even if the film is filled with pain.
This film featured some of the most exciting moving photography of horses I have ever seen. And the way the image was very golden, but with subtle hues emanating.. such inky blacks! I wonder how they created the effect. Today no doubt it would be done with a computer, but.. something is lost really with the digital method.
I think we have too much control over every least aspect of a film’s look with computers. There’s something to these older methods which have more of a sense of mystery in the way they are processed. I believe as artists we really need to let control of some aspect of the works creation, leave some massive aspect of it to chance, or to elements that, well, maybe are not completely outside of our control but are alive and have their own rhythms not created by us!
EXCITING!!!Oct 11.2009
Hooray!:
Oct 09.2009
We knew there had been a journalist at the show - Sylvain had been asked questions about the instruments after the show. So it was a matter of just waiting! This morning I found his review, and it’s a really good one! Thanks so much!!!
Fredo Viola Brussels 2009 review
An emotional end to the first leg of the tour…Oct 08.2009
Tomorrow I return to Woodstock. I’m feeling so relieved and happy to be returning. Life on the road is hard for me, as I don’t feel comfortable carting my stuff around. I always worry I will lose or break something. I guess I did better than I expected dealing with this kind of stuff. What was the biggest and happiest surprise was how much I enjoyed performing.
The last show in Brussels was absolutely my very favorite. Me and the guys all the way there were very tired and cranky with each other. We got defensive, emotional, maybe a little childish too. But I think down deep, or maybe even not so deep, we understood it was just fatigue and a desire to be hooooooooooooooome. So it wasn’t really so serious.
The hotel we checked into was wonderful - really grand and comfortable for a change. And the venue as well was lovely. Having been refreshed by a shower and a rest we just decided to make this one the best performance. During the show I announced this was our last one and that we were going to really give it our all. The audience responded enthusiastically, and what proceeded was our most loving, emotionally charged show yet. During the performance of Puss I saw three people in the audience simultaneously smile with joy and it almost made me want to cry, I was so happy!! I felt so much love for my wonderful friends who were playing with me (quite opposite from the ruffled feathers of the morning’s drive!) It was such a great crowd too. We took another crowd shot!
Afterwards I met my good friend from France, Anne-Cécile as well as a person from em411 who I have known without ever having met for at least five years. Bodo!
We all went out to have some drinks and it was just so completely joyful and satisfying. The show had gone very well. Indeed, the TOUR had gone well! We had learned so much about each other and now we had a nice three week break before the last two week leg of the tour! What could be better??!
Prix Constantin nomination!
Oct 08.2009
I was nominated today for a Prix Constantin in France! The Prix Constantin is like the Mercury award, which recognizes new artists… The cool part is that me, Ben, Jasper, Sylvain, Graeme and possibly Charlie as well will be televised performing in the Olympia Theatre, a very famous, awesome venue where Edith Piaf has performed, along with generations of amazing artists! Quite a bit of luck!!! Anyway, wish me luck!
Festival Temps D’ImagesOct 04.2009
Last night we played at the magical Festival Temps D’Images in Marnes La Valée. It was the first day that really felt and smelled like autumn, which made us all really happy. The festival grounds looked just amazingly beautiful with all leaves swirling around in the breeze.
The show went well, despite my voice being a bit tired. The crowd was really great though, so once again we took a photo!
Oct 03.2009
So after a subdued Tuesday night concert in Alencon, we awoke to discover the beauty of the center of town. Great bakeries, really amazing old buildings. It was just very lovely. Here’s a couple shots…
After a bit of walking around we had to head straight away to the city of Rennes to play at UBU. I am very appreciative of having the opportunity to play this venue as the owner, Jean-Louis, had booked me two years prior into the Transmusicale festival which I got too sick and had to cancel! So it was great to have a second chance!
We had been told that the venue was very special, if a bit strange. It turns out the venue is shaped like an ear! We were a bit perplexed and wondered how well it would go.
We were really happy to have quite an energetic, responsive crowd and the show went so well! Probably one of my favorites so far.
After the show Jean-Louis came up to us and congratulated us heartily, so I felt really happy to have given him a good show.
Afterwards we hung around in the front meeting some of the very kind fans. I have written this one fan’s name down and can’t find the slip of paper! But I will eventually and edit the blog! If you see this, here’s the shot! Send me your email and I’ll email a high res to you.
Last night we played Laval, which was quite subdued, despite it being a Friday night. I think it was the proximity of the bar. Personally I don’t like to perform when you can hear people talking throughout, but it’s something I suppose I have to get used to. And actually, I think all in all folks enjoyed the show. It was one of our best performances too, as I think we felt we had to work a bit harder for their attention.
Today we drive to Marne le Vallée. Then just one more show for this first leg of the tour. I am starting to really miss home.
Live from the Ososphere Festival!Oct 03.2009
Hi there,
I have lots of new news and photos, but first just wanted to post a link to the first twenty minutes of our set at the Ososphere Festival. That’s the big, raucous, fun festival which I wrote of previously as being a massive challenge for us which turned out really well! If you’d like to watch, you can see it here:
Fredo Viola Live at the Ososphere Festival
Le VaubanOct 01.2009
Basically the trip has been, as Mido the tour manager put it, “quite gentle” with all of the performances separated by a day or two or sometimes three in between. Until now… We have just completed the second of 5 performances performed in a row. It feels good. You don’t really have enough time to worry too much about anything.
Anyway, the first, and for me the most memorable, was in the city of Brest, by the Ocean! Being a big fan of both Fassbinder and Genet I had heard a lot about Brest throughout my college years. Apparently all but two buildings were bombed during WW II. After that they built new structures right on top of some of the ruins! ??? There are basements in some of the buildings of Brest with old street signs!! And if they need to do construction (this part I find a bit hard to fathom...) the whole city has to be evacuated just incase they hit a buried German bomb and it sets off a chain reaction of buried bomb explosions… ??!!!
hmmm… well, my experience of Brest was memorable indeed. When we arrived at Cabaret Vauban, the venue at which we would be playing the next day, we had a peak of the performance space and were all brimming with excitement. This club had been built and decorated in the 50s and 60s and had not changed a bit!!! It seemed so David Lynch to all of us and we couldn’t wait to perform the next day!
In the morning we took a walk around the hotel, down to the water. There’s a fortress wall that really reminded me so much of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. Also of Querelle, minus the… well, you know… kissing sailors.
The folks at Vauban were so very nice. One kind gentleman by the name of Philippe had seen a performance of me and Ben on One Shot Not a few months ago and came specially to the show!
He was very kind and bought us all beers after the show and talked with us. Vauban’s owner was very kind as well and asked us to sign his club book, which had been signed by the many artists who played there since 1950.
Truly the best part of these shows has been the reaction of the audience members and the great conversations we have had after the shows. Here’s an image of two more of the folks from Brest, Fred and Dominique.
Sadly I didn’t get a shot of Dominique’s husband Yvon. He was also very kind to us. Thanks to all of you for a really great time. We really hope to return soon!
Anyway, next stop was Alencon, and Mido has had to leave for another gig, leaving Finian as both the audio engineer and tour manager. He’s doing a great job, but merch sales after the show were extremely difficult and awkward! Anyway, thanks for everything, Mido!!
